Conductor system for electrified rails



Feb- 2, 1954 R. CONNELL 2,668,199

CONDUCTOR SYSTEM FOR ELEOTRIFLEO RAILS Filed Sept. 2, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1v Feb, 2, 1954. R. coNNELL 2,668,199

CONDUCTOR SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIFIED RAILS Filed Sept. 2, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pra/0H CONN/51.4, y f//f Hrroiems Y: Hipp/ Mac/7; @mfp/A9011 Patented Feb. 2, 1954 CONDUCTOR SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIFIED RAILS Ralph Connell, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Angelus'Engineering Corporation, South Gate, Calif., a corporation of California Application September 2, 1947, Serial No. 771,738

10 Claims.

This invention relates to overhead conveyor systems, and more especially is concerned with means by which the so-called monorail or crane systems are electrified.

In conventional electrified systems employing overhead rails, overhead conductor bars are employed for supplying electric current to hoisting means and the like mounted upon the conveyors being used, and such conductor bars, together with current collecting means, such as rollers and roller-carrying frames are exposed, no protective insulation being employed upon or about them. As a consequence, serious danger lurks in these exposed parts, and they constitute a menace to repair men or other persons who must work near them or who come in contact with them.

The principal object of this invention is,

therefore, to provide an overhead monorail or crane system wherein the conductor bars or other kindred means supplying electric current are appropriately insulated in order that workmen may be protected.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in conjunction with insulated conductor bars and the like, current collecting means so constructed that when it is in operative position with respect to a conductor bar it also will be insulated whereby to protect workmen and others.

It is still another object of the invention to provide insulating means which enshrouds conductor bars being employed to transmit electric energy, and which at the same time houses the current collecting means being employed in conjunction therewith.

Another object of the invention is to employ insulating means for such conductor bars which will permit the passage of the current collecting means during ordinary operation of the conveyor system while at the same time housing such current collecting means.

A further object of the invention is to provide insulating means for conductor bars which will entirely enclose the conductor bars when no current collecting means is passing therealong, which will spread to admit the passage of such current collecting means, and will again close completely concealing the bars after the current collecting means has passed during advancement of the conveyor means.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide novel current conducting means for connecting sections of conductor bars, novel clamp means, and novel supporting means f Ql fille conductor bars.

Other objects, and various features of the invention, will become apparent to those skilled in this art upon reference to the following speciflcation and the accompanying drawings wherein certain embodiments of the invention are illustrated for the purpose of exempliication.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing my invention disposed in operative relationship with an overhead or monorail conveyor system;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View showing means for forming appropriate insulated joints in conductor bar sections;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section show ing an electric current collector of this invention and its relationship to a, conductor bar and insulating means therefor in accordance with this invention; Y

Fig. 4 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale, portions being broken away, and showing the assembled relation of a conductor bar and its insulating shroud, together with means for clamping the shroud in place upon the conductor bar whereby to admit passage of the current collector, means also being shown for supporting the shrouded conductor bar;

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are vertical cross-sections taken respectively on the lines 5 5, 5-6, and 'l-'l of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a perspective View indicating how the current collector of this invention will readily span a gap between adjacent sections of the conductor bar;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation illustrating a modified form of supporting clamp for the conductor bar, portions being broken away to facilitate illustration;

Fig. 10 is a cross section taken on the line I9- I of Fig. 9;

Fig. l1 is an exploded perspective view which further illustrates the relationship of the clamp of Figs. 9 and 10; and

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a further modiiication of clamp which is adapted for supporting a plurality of conductor bars in close parallel relationship.

rIfhe construction illustrated in the drawings includes a conventional elongated conductor bar l5 for carrying electric current, this bar being of the conventional so-called igure 8 construction having a connecting web |5a integrally joining the upper and lower lobes of the figure 8 bar. The lobes are approximately circular as illustrated, and the web ld is relatively thin in order to provide an elongated recession or channel on each side of the bar I5. Bars of other appropriate or conventional shape also may be used.

Mounted upon the conductor bar l5 so as to cover and enclose the same is an elongated shroud I6 of flexible insulating material, such as rubber. 'I'he shroud I6 is roughly also of iigure 8 shape, its upper portion being in the form of a lobe shaped to provide an upper elongated channel which receives the upper lobe of the conductor bar l5, intermediate portions of the opposite sides of the shroud I6 being provided with elongated recessions ie (Fig. 6) to engage the sides of the web a of the conductor bar. The lower lobe of the shroud I6 is much enlarged with respect to the lower lobe of the conductor bar i5 so that the corresponding sides of the shroud I6 lie well beyond such lower lobe of the conductor bar I5 for a purpose presently to be described.

The conductor bar l5 and its insulating shroud IB may be supported in operative position by various appropriate means, one of which, illustrated in Figs. l, 4, and 5 comprises a suspending and supporting clamp Il carried upon a projecting portion of overhead bracket means I8 carried by a conventional overhead monorail I9 which may be of I-beam construction as illustrated, or other preferred form. When required, one or more conductor bars I5 may be carried at each side of the monorail I9 through the medium of clamps Vl disposed at both ends of the bracket means I8.

The under edge of the lower lobe of the conductor bar l5 is adapted to be slidably engaged by an elongated current collecting shoe 2S which thus constitutes a current collector to gather electric energy for actuation of hoisting means or the like carried by the monorail I9. The shoe 2Q is adapted to be inserted into the bottom of the shroud l5, and to move along the conductor bar I5 while being housed within the shroud 1G. rThis is accomplished by providing a continuous slit 2i in the lowermost portion of the shroud le, that is, in the lowest part of the larger lobe lying around and below the lower lobe oi the conductor bar l5. Thus, the lower lobe of the shroud I6 is in the form of two separable sides 2m (Figs. 5 and 6) which, due to the ilexible and resilient character of the rubber or similar material of which the shroud Iii is composed, are adapted to close against each other at the slit 2l as seen in Figs. 5 and 6, or to be spread by the shoe 2G, as seen in Fig. '7, so that the shoe 2! may enter the shroud IG to engage the conductor bar I5 and to pass therealong.

The shoe is carried by an overhead truck or trolley of a crane or monorail construction which is supported as shown by wheels 23 travelling upon the lower flanges of the l-beam type track or rail IE! and supporting the framework of a trolley or crane which in turn supports an electric motor 25 which is energized by electric current collected by the shoe 2i) and fed to the motor 25 by an electric conduit 2t. The electric motor, which may be Controlled in any approved manner such as by a switch on a drop cord actuates a hoist drum 21 Ycarrying hoisting cables 28, or the like. A portion of the framework 2f! has mounted thereupon a supporting arm Si! which carries the shoe at its upper end. The arm 30 may be mounted in a conventional manner in which case it is urged upward to maintain the shoe 20 in contact with the conductor bar I5 through the medium of a spring 3l whose lower end is rested upon an appropriate bracket 31a on the framework 2li, an adjacent portion of the arm S0 being mounted upon a pivot $2 also carried by the framework 2li.

The collector shoe 2li is elongated, as best seen in Fig. 3, and has two end portions 3e which are upwardly arched to provide corresponding engaging arms to contact the conductor bar l at spaced contact points 35. The spacing of the Contact points 35 is effected by depressing the intermediate portion of the shoe 2@ lying between the end portions Se so as to provide a separating space 3E throughout which no contact occurs between the shoe 2li and the conductor bar l5. As also indicated, the extremities of the end portions 35i are downwardly turned whereby to provide an eilicient sliding contact, even in the event that the lower edge oi the conductor bar i5 presents irregularities, such as due to minor misalignrnent or slight spacing between the ends oi' the adjacent sections of the conductor bar. For the purpose of further facilitating good sliding contact on the shoe 20 with the conductor bar $5, the longitudinally arched end portions are at the same time transversely concaved so as to provide upstanding longitudinally extending lips Sila which also are upwardly arched, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and thus serve as guides.

In order that good sliding movement of the shoe 20, which in eect serves as a trolley shoe, may be assured, lubricating inserts 3S are set in the inward portions of the end portions 34 of the shoe 20, the tops of these inserts extending into sliding engagement with the under edge of the conductor bar l5. These inserts 33 may be of any appropriate known form of lubricating inserts including graphited bodies.

For the purpose of properly mounting the shoe 20 upon the upper end of its supporting arm 3B, the middle portion of the shoe 2i! is provided with an opening le elongated in the direction of the length of the shoe and this opening receives a metal stud 42 which is flat transversely of the shoe 20, the stud 42 being mounted upon a metal pin-43 having its ends xed in the side walls of the opening it o the shoe 2G, which also is of metal, these metal parts being good conductors of electricity. The lower portion of the flat stud i2 lies below the body of the shoe 26 in such position that it is slidingly engaged by the edges of the lower side portions 21a of the shroud I6 adjacent the slit 2l. The advancing ends of the stud l2 may be tapered or beveled to facilitate their advance along the slit. The lower end of the stud 42 is provided with a threaded extension 44 adapted to be received in a correspondingly threaded opening in the upper end of an insulation block 55 having an appropriate bore i6 provided in its lower end to receive a corresponding supporting pin or the like positioned upon the upper end of the shoe supporting arm 3S. As indicated in Fig. 3, one end of the conduit 25 is inserted into a corresponding seat in the upper end of the insulating block 45, and the conductor wire 26a of such conduit 26 is passed into the bottom of the opening receiving the threaded extension lill, the end of the Wire 26a being bound thereby in position and in electrical contact with the lower extremity oi the extension t4. By these means the shoe 20 is properly carried upon the upper end of its supporting arm Se, and appropriate electrical connection is made between the shoe 2t and the motor 25. Thus, as

the truck 22 is moved along the monorail I9, elec:

trical energy is appropriately and continuously supplied from the conductor bar l5 to the motor 25 for actuation of the hoisting mechanism, 21, 28, or other crane apparatus to be operated.

In order that the insulating shroud I8 may be properly bound to the conductor bar I5 at suitable intervals between the supporting clamps Il, and also in order that the lower edges of the shroud I8 adjacent the split 2| may be positively closed after the shoe 28 and its stud 42 have passed any given point, a plurality of spring clips 50 is employed. Each clip 58 is a strip of spring metal formed to have in general a U- shape, the middle thereof providing a bight 5I of roughly circular formation, the opposite legs being contracted as illustrated to form recessions 52 corresponding with the recessions Ita, of the shroud I5 and serving to bind the recessions 15a against the web |511 of the conductor bar I5, as best illustrated in Fig. 7. Preferably, the bight 5| loosely engages around the upper lobe of the shroud I5 approximately as illustrated, but it may hug such upper lobe when found desirable. The lower portions of each clip 58 are flared outward from the recessions 52 on its opposite sides to accommodate, in general, the lower portions 2|a of the shroud lying at opposite sides of the slit 2|. With this construction, as the shoe 28 passes through the slit 2| adjacent each clip 58, the lower portions of the two legs expand as the side portions 2|a of the shroud I6 expand, whereby to pass the shoe 28. The tips at the lower extremities of the legs of the clips 58 are curved outwardly as indicated to provid-e suitably rounded bearing terminals 53 against which the lowermost edge portions of the shroud I5 are forced by passage of the stud 42 as the shoe 28 progresses along the bar I5.

The form of suspending and supporting clamp Il illustrated in Figs. l, 4, and 5 comprises a pair of spaced clamping jaws 55 and 58 adapted to be disposed at opposite sides of the conductor bar I5 and the shroud I 6. The lower ends of the jaws 55 and 56 are directed inward toward each other, their tips being directed then outward to provide rounded recessions 55a and 55a, respectively, such recessions being adapted to engage in the recessions |5a of the shroud |8 opposite the web I5a of the conductor bar i5. The jaw 55 is shown as having an integrally formed laterally directed spacer arm 5l which engages the jaw 55 near its top. Bolts 58 passing through the two jaws 55 and 55 serve to bind the end of the arm 5l against the upper portion of the jaw 55 and also to bind the recessions 55a and 55a in the operative position illustrated in Fig. 5. For the purpose `of suspension of the clamp I'| from the bracket means I8, the spacer arm 5l has secured thereto a block 58, as through the medium of an intervening neck 5I attached to the spacer arrn 5l in any appropriate manner, and a U-bolt 52 seated in a corresponding annular groove 53 in the block lfill serves to bind the block to the bracket means I8, the legs of the U-bolt S2 passing through the bracket means I8 and receiving clamping nuts 81| on their ends as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Where it is not desired to risk deformation and damage of the shroud I8 which might result from the employment of the clamp I l, other clamping means may be employed. Thus, as illustrated in Figs. 9, 10, and 11, an opening 55 is formed in a corresponding upper portion of the shroud i6 to expose a portion of the upper lobe of the conductor bar I5 and an upper portion of the web I5a thereof, whereby to receive a clamp 61 to be bound directly upon the bar I5. This clamp 61 includes two opposed clamp jaws 18 bound upon the upper portion of the bar I5 by a pair of screws or bolts 12. The upper middle portion of each jaw '|0 is provided with an elongated slot 13, the slots '|3 receiving opposite portions of an annular` head '|4 provided upon the lower end of a neck 15 embedded in or integral with a disk '|S from which appropriate upstanding attachment ears '|1 extend. Preferably, the disk 18 and its neck 15, as well as the annular head 14, are of insulating material such as ber. The attachment ears 'Il are adapted to be bound lto the bracket means I8 as required, for example,

by a bolt received in openings 11a in the ears In order to provide proper insulation for the clamping jaws 10, especially where the latter are metallic and become electrified, an insulating hood 18 is employed to enclose the clamp jaws 18 and the opening 68 in the shroud I 6. As illustrated, this hood 18, which constitutes an auxiliary shroud, is long enough and wide enough to completely hide the electrified portions of the clamp, and it is so molded and shaped from rubber or other insulating material as to assume the operative relationship indicated in Fig. 10. It is held by being tted around the neck 'l5 above the annular head 74, and when formed of soft rubber it may be easily installed by being stretched over the head 14.

Where the form of clamp employed in Figs. 9, l0 and 11 is used, a series of spring clips 50 is resorted to as the only means to maintain the shroud I8 in position upon the conductor bar I5, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4.

It is sometimes necessary to position a plurality of conductor bars l5 and their shrouds I6 in a close parallel relationship such as illustrated in Fig. 12. For this purpose a multiple type of clamp is employed. This comprises end clamp blocks 80 and intermediate clamp blocks 8|. Each of these blocks has a flared, outwardly curved surface 82 adapted to extend longitudinally of the respective shroud I6 and to depend at the sides of the lower portion of the respective shroud I6. Each block 88 and 8| also Ihas an upper curved portion B3 formed on a smaller radius than the respective curved portion 82 whereby to engage over the upper curved lobe portion of each shroud I5 and corresponding upper lobe portion of the contained conductor bar I5. To effect the required clamping engagement, an inwardly directed rib 84 is provided on each block between the curved portions 82 and 83, so that opposing ribs 84 of adjacent blocks 80 and 8| engage in the recessions |8a of the respective shroud I6 and press them against the adjacent web portion I5a of the conductor bar I5. The blocks 88 and 8| are bound in clamping position to hold the conductor bars I5 and their shrouds I6 by means of long bolts 85 extending through the series and secured by means of nuts 86. The depending portions 81 of the blocks 88 and 8| are sufficiently flared to permit ready expansion of the side portions 2|a adjacent the slit 2| in the respective shroud I6 as the collector shoe 20 slides through the lower portionof the respective shroud IB in contact with the under edge of the respective conductor bar I5. For the purpose of suspension of this form of clamp, any form of support may be used such as an upstanding screw or bolt 88 bound between the middle blocks 8| through the action of the bolts 85 and their nuts 86.

The functioning of this apparatus has been in general described in conjunction with the explanation of its construction. Briefly, as an overhead trolley or truck 22 or Aother crane or monorail device is moved in either direction along the rail I9, the collector shoe 20 slides along the underside of the connector bar I5, in each instance, and occupies the space formed within the lower side portions of the shroud I6 as indicated in Fig. 7. The edges of such portions provided by the slit 2I thus expand and slide along the lower side portions of the stud 42 which supports the shoe 20, such edges lying just above the insulation block 45 whereby to enclose all metallic parts of the collecting shoe structure. Thus, transmission of electric current through the electric motor 25 is readily effected without exposure of any of theelectried metallic parts, the conductor bar I and its shroud I6 being supported in each instance by the overhead bracket means I8 through the medium of the clamp II of Fig. l, or the clamp 61 of Fig. 11, or the clamp means of Fig. 12.

In view of the upwardly arched configuration of the portions 35 of the collector shoe 2S, as seen in Fig. 3, together with the spacing of these portions and the concave cross-sectional construction as seen in Fig. '7, the shoe 2e readily slides along the under side o the conductor bar I5 passing from section to section thereof, even though adjacent end portions o the sections of the conductor bar may be somewhat misaligned. Also, ready passage from one section to another, as indicated in Fig. 8, will be assured even though the ends of the adjacent sections be somewhat spaced. Automatic lubrication is effected by means ci the lubricating inserts 3S shown in Fig. 3. Where it is desired to avoid actual spacing as indicated in Fig. 8, and in those instances where direct contact ci adjacent sections oi the conductor bar I5 is not desired, a section of insulation Si! may be employed as shown in Fig. 2, the cross section of this element corresponding with the cross section of the conductor bar I5. In order that the insulation Eil may be properly retained, spring clamps e2 are employed to bridge each joint. These clamps have the cross-sectional outline of half of a gure 8, thereby providingV an upper lobe portion ld to iit over the upper lobe of the conductor bar i5 and depending inset portions 95 which engage the opposite upper portions of the web Ida of the conductor bar I5 in firm clamping relationship. When desired, such spring clamps 92 may be also employed to join abutting ends of the adjacent sections of the conductor bar Iii.

Other modifications of the generic invention herein disclosed will no doubt occur to those skilled in the art, and it is therefore intended to protect all merlin-cations which iall within the scope oi the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination in an overhead electrified system: a conductor bar having a cross section approximating a iigure 8 shape; and a split integral insulating shroud completely enclosing and fully insulating said bar circumferentially and having a channel 'fitting over and retained on one lobe of said figure S, the lower portion of said shroud being split and depending below and spaced from the other lobe of said figure to form at the sides of said other lobe and below it a channel for reception oi a current collector movable therethrough and through the split and along said other lobe, said shroud being normally closed at the line of split, said shroud being flexible and yieldable to expand to pass said collector and to contract to close at the line of split after said collector has passed therebeyond.

2. A combination as in claim 1 including a collector shoe for engagement with said other lobe of said conductor bar, said shoe having upstanding side portions to lie at the sides of said other lobe and occupy the spaces of said channel provided at said sides of said other lobe by said spacing of said side portions of said shroud from said sides of said other lobe.

3. A combination as in claim 1 including means for binding said shroud in iitted relation upon said bar and having yielding portions depending outside lower portions of said shroud to close the latter yieldingly at rsaid line of split.

4. A combination as in claim 1 including clamp means disposed about the channel portion of said shroud iitting over said one lobe and binding said shroud upon said one lobe of said conductor bar.

5. In combination in an overhead electrified system: a conductor bar having a cross section approximating a gure 8 shape; a split integral insulating shroud completely enclosing and fully insulating said bar circumferentially and having a channel fitting over and retained on one lobe of said iigure 8, the lower portion or said shroud being split and depending below and spaced from the other lobe of said figure to form a channel for reception of a current collector movable therethrough and through the split and along said other lobe, said shroud being normally closed at the line of split, said shroud being flexible and yieldable to expand to pass said collector and to contract to close at the line of split in the absence of said collector; and means about said shroud at a plurality of positions 'and binding said shroud in tted relation upon said bar, said means having yielding portions depending outside said lower portions of said shroud for positively closing said lower portions of said shroud at said line of split.

6. In combination in an electriiied overhead rail system: a conductor bar; an insulating shroud covering said bar and split along its length; and a current collector shoe movable along said bar and adapted to be received within and insulated by said shroud and to be moved between the portions of said shroud along the line of split, said shroud depending below and enclosing said bar and shoe, and said shoe having an insulating attachment on the lower side thereof and projecting below said shroud, said attachment having means for connection to a supporting carrier and having means for receiving an electric conduit.

'7. In combination in an electried rail system: a conductor bar formed of elongated supported sections disposed in end-to-end relationship; and an elongated collector shoe having spaced barengaging portions slidable along said bar and adapted to span a space between adjacent Aends of said sections whereby continuously to receive electric current from said bar, each bar-engaging portion having upstanding side portions providing a channel to receive said conductor bar, said shoe having shoe-supporting means positioned midway between said bar-engaging portions on the side of the shoe opposite from said channels.

8. Incombination in an overhead electriiied rail system: a conductor bar provided with an upper portion and a lower portion connected by an intermediate portion of thickness less than said upper portion, said lower portion being adapted to be engaged by a movable collector shoe; an integral insulating flexible shroud completely enclosing said conductor bar and having an upper portion generally corresponding in cross section with the cross section of the upper portion of said conductor bar and said intermediate portion, said shroud having integral lower side portions spaced from the sides of said lower portion of said bar and depending below said lower portion of said bar and providing a channel around said lower portion of said bar and Within the shroud for passage of said shoe, the lowest parts of said shroud side portions being divided by a split and being normally in contact with each other at said split but adapted to yield to pass a member carrying said shoe; yielding clamp means disposed about the upper portion of said shroud and binding said upper portion of said shroud against the upper portion of said conductor bar, said yielding clamp means having depending yielding side portions engaging said lower portions of said shroud to yield to pass a current collector moving through said split and to return said shroud side portions to close said split upon passage of said collector; and supporting clamp means disposed about said upper portion of said shroud and binding the latter against said intermediate portion of said bar and adapted to support said bar.

9. A combination as in claim 8` wherein said shroud is formed of resilient rubber.

10. In a collector device for an electrified rail system which includes a ilexible insulating shroud enclosing a conductor bar structure to be engaged by a sliding collector shoe and comprising abutting bar portions forming joints. the shroud being split to provide engaging edge portions yieldable to pass said shoe: an elongated collector shoe having spaced bar-engaging portions to engage simultaneously bar portions at opposite sides of a joint, the bar-engaging portions of said shoe being concaved transversely to form upstanding side portions providing channels accommodating said conductor bar structure, said side portions being cut away between said bar-engaging portions to clear a joint when in position intermediate such spaced bar-engaging portions; and an insulating attachment connected to the middle of said shoevvopposite said upstanding side portions and between said bar-engaging portions and projecting from said shoe, said attachment having means for mounting the shoe on a supporting carrier and means for receiving an electric conduit.

RALPH CONNELL.

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